Insurance laws to make polluters pay

New marine laws will ensure boaties are more accountable for any damage they cause to our waterways.

Transport and Main Roads Minister, Paul Lucas, said today that changes to legislation now means boat owners have new insurance requirements.

“Every year the State Government invests $7.2m to ensure we’re able to react quickly and efficiently to marine pollution,” Mr Lucas said.

“But the current laws make it difficult to recover costs from evasive marine polluters - these changes will hold them more accountable for the clean-up.”

Mr Lucas said the new legislation to the Transport Operation Act now requires all recreational and commercial boats over 15 metres long to have insurance.

“This is to ensure our pristine coastal environment stays the way it is now and into the future,” Mr Lucas said.

“Protecting our environment is not just a State Government priority but something everyone should be concerned about.”

Mr Lucas said the specific insurance requirements now are:

·Recreational ships more than 15 metres but less than 35 metres - $250,000 for pollution clean-up; and $10 million for salvage or removal if the ship is abandoned or wrecked;

·Commercial ships more than 15 metres but less than 35 metres - $500,000 for pollution clean-up; and $10 million for salvage or removal and;

·Any ship more than 35 metres - $10 million for both pollution clean-up and salvage or removal costs.

Mr Lucas said Maritime Safety Queensland would phase in the new requirements over 12 months to give owners time to organise the appropriate insurance cover.

"We are trying to make the introduction of these regulations as smooth as possible.”

“We will be writing to all boat owners with vessels over 15 metres to advise them of the changes.”

"The bottom line though, is that boaties have a responsibility to do the right thing on the water and ensure in the event of something going wrong they’re adequately covered to deal with it."

Mr Lucas said Queensland Transport will enforce the changes through ensuring newly registered vessels have adequate insurance cover

“This will further be imposed with enforcement officers patrolling the water checking for compliance to the changes once they are phased in.

Maritime Safety Queensland will be contacting owners of eligible ships in the next few weeks to advise them of the new requirements. Further information can be found on Maritime Safety Queensland's website at www.msq.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Roanne Johnson 3237 1145